During the opening session of Kazakhstan’s Parliament on 4 September 2017, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev devoted a large part of his presentation to the challenges facing Kazakhstan’s economy, achieving investment-led growth, and the role of fiscal policy in consolidating recent improvements in GDP growth. He also referenced the new draft Tax Code, which seeks to eliminate ineffective incentives and preferences while diminishing the shadow economy and simplifying tax administration.

On 25 August, during the Eurasian Week Forum held at EXPO-2017 in Astana, ITIC and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes a framework for cooperation for research, professional dialogue, and educational exchange.

Last week, I was honored to participate in the Eurasian Week Forum, an annual event aimed at the development of the Eurasian Economic Union’s (EAEU) economy, investment and export potential, during my visit to Astana, Kazakhstan for EXPO-2017. The Forum served as an effective platform for developing business-to-business contacts, discussing tools and conditions for business development in the EAEU, and elaborating the strategy of EAEU economic development in the context of global challenges.

Representatives from ministries of finance, tax administrations, academic institutions, and the private sector gathered in Paris on 26-28 June 2017 for ITIC’s 13th annual Eurasia Tax Forum. The themes for this year’s Forum were recommended by regional officials and investors, and they included the following: